[pct-l] Desert water filters

[Dan Welch]

I didn't want to hijack the thread about the Sawyer squeeze filter - so I'll
start a new one. I'm gathering gear this year to try out in prep for a 2014
PCT thru.  In my Sierra hikes, I've often used steripens and Aqua Mira drops
and have been happy with both.  I'm leaning towards the AM drops for weight,
simplicity, and robustness.  However, I realize there may be times when
water calls out to be pre-filtered - mainly to get rid of the Yuck factor.
I know some people use bandanas, some people use coffee filters, etc...
Something like the Sawyer Squeeze seems like overkill and more prone to
clogging for truly yucky water.

So my question is this - on a typical PCT thru, how often does water need to
be pre-filtered to make it "aesthetically acceptable"?  Keep in mind I'm not
looking for crystal clear water.  I'm OK with somewhat cloudy water, but I
think I would drink less water (not a good thing) if it was frequently brown
or I was often picking things out of my teeth (!).

The frequency of occurrence matters to me because if it's just a time or two
the whole trip, I can live with the bandana filter.  If I need to do that
several times a week in the desert, I'll probably want to go with something
more robust and convenient.  

I know this is a subjective question, but I would appreciate your experience
and I'll figure it out from there.  Also, if you have ideas about
pre-filters that have worked for you (as opposed to total filters like the
Sawyer treatment systems) I'd love to hear them. 

Thanks!
Timberline

  

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Justin West
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:06 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Sawyer Squeeze

 I hiked the PCT over the past two years using an older model sawyer inline
filter.  this worked great.  I would recommend just buying the sawyer inline
filter and forget their bag system.  Get a platypus 2L bag, put the sawyer
low on the hose (far from the bag to create as much head as possible).
these bags are easy to fill even in low flow situations.  Carry a
lightweight water bottle like a gatorade bottle.  tie a bit of cord to the
handle of the platypus bag.  when you need to fill up; fill the bag, hang it
from a branch, or perch it on a rock, and let gravity filter your water into
your gatorade bottle while you eat something and stare off into the stream.
I don't like trying to suck water through a filter while I am breathing
heavy and moving along.  I prefer to be able to gulp from a bottle.  I
mostly hiked with just the one quart bottle of water and an empty platypus
bag, but in the event I needed to carry more water I had capacity for two
more quarts in the bag.
if you have a bounce box, put the backwash attachment in it and USE IT in
towns.  find a tap and run  a few gallons of water back through it
regularly.  this little filter has probably done about 800-1000 quarts and
shows no signs of slowing up using this method

only downside I found was that sometimes if the filter ran all the way empty
(I stared off into the stream too long) and sucked up air, it would not run
well, in which case just unscrewing the two halves of the filter housing
(not sure if the new ones allow you to do this) would prime it fine again.

justin
www.storythewalk.wordpress.com
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